18/4 U16s’ Berkshire Youth League Finalé
April 20, 2010
Seven Try Sunshine Finalé
Reading Abbey U16 A 7 – Newbury U16 A 43
Newbury U16 A finished off their final Berkshire youth league season in suitable fashion with a basketful of tries at Abbey on Sunday. Seven tries in the sunshine was a fitting climax to their BYL campaigns over recent years, even if the champagne style of some recent games eluded Newbury for most of the match.
Perhaps because of their eagerness to secure the result they wanted, Newbury didn’t achieve the stability up front or the slick distribution that would have given the control they needed early on. But Newbury opened the scoring after seven minutes when ball went wide on the right and Jonny Courtney sprinted into the corner less than a metre from touch. Ten minutes later Greg Heath chalked up Newbury’s second with a lovely break down the left wing round the defence for a run in under the posts. However, despite fierce breakdown and rucking play from Jonno Stancombe, Tom Simm, Will Frome, Tom Soanes and others, the untidy and frustrating pattern of play continued (as it did for most of the game) and errors left Newbury vulnerable to the determined and hopeful Abbey team. Muttering about some of the infringement calls and under pressure at being pushed back to their line by Abbey kicks, Newbury lost composure and suffered at the Ref’s whistle several times for ruck offences before he blew for a penalty try. But Newbury shrugged off the loss of points and, always looking dangerous in the Backs, took the next on slow ball moved to the right. Even though the final pass needed a stretch behind to catch it, Jonny Courtney rooted the defender, stepped round and went down the line, just in play, resisting tacklers, nudging the flag post but grounding safely. In fact, in spite of the continuing scrappy set piece and phase play, whenever ball moved out Newbury spectators held their breath. And the fourth try was a candidate for a master-class in offloading. Video would be needed to confirm all participants but ball went wide to the right again through quick hands, Jonny Courtney took a familiar dash down the wing before twisting to offload to Will Eversfield and a string of several more fingertip offloads in contact ended when Tom Simm touched down between the posts. A superb try. Then, just on half time, Newbury secured the fifth after good hands to the right and well timed passes saw Greg Heath slip through and behind the defence – under the posts again. Abbey 7, Newbury 31 at half time.
With the bonus secure, Newbury rested some players and refreshed from the bench soon after half time. Abbey fought hard and caused more disruption for Newbury but were themselves frustrated and indiscipline netted them a well deserved yellow card. Newbury took advantage just after 20 minutes in, when a counter attack by Jack Hibberd set Alex Huntsman off on a break down the left wing and a score under the posts. The visitors’ seventh and final try came ten minutes later, running from inside their own half. Joe Leadley to Jack Hibberd, then Alex Cima headed for the line wide on the right before hesitating, being caught short but offloading to Peter Allan to touch down with only three minutes to go. Final score Abbey 7 – Newbury 43.
So, game over, attention quickly shifted to the Maidenhead – Windsor match where Windsor had been leading at half time. But sadly that had gone to form and Windsor failed to provide the upset needed. This left Newbury a very comfortable second place in the final league standings behind Maidenhead – the unfortunate loss after conceding a two try lead at Maidenhead last month being the difference.
Tries: Jonny Courtney (2), Greg Heath (2), Tom Simm, Alex Huntsman, Peter Allan
Conversions: Peter Allan (2), Jonny Courtney, Joe Leadley
Squad Photo (Back) Ben Hicks, Jack Hibberd, Joe Leadley, Harry Fisher, Peter Allan, Jonny Courtney, Tom Simm, Ean Kershaw, Will Frome, Jake Newton, Sam Gutteridg (Front) George Read-Smith, Will Eversfield, Alex Huntsman, Greg Heath, Alex Cima, Tim Blake, Jonathan Stancombe (C), Tom Soanes, Jak Rossiter
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